November 25, 2003

Theological Education for the Anglican Communion (TEAC), a working group established by the Anglican Primates, held a meeting, involving its core members at All Saints Pastoral Centre, London Colney, England, 10-14 November 2003. The group, which is committed to delivering its final report to the Primates and the Anglican Consultative Council by 2006-2007, in time for the next Lambeth Conference, has as the aims of its work:

. to deliver a well-focused challenge to be a Communion of Christians who read the Bible together in the fullest awareness of who, when and where we are;

. to strengthen the sense of why we are Anglicans and what sort of Church we want to be;

. to make clear suggestions as to how theological education can be delivered with appropriate professionalism and ecumenical alertness; . to create a culture of teaching and learning in the faith community;

The work of TEAC will range widely across several key areas for theological education, looking at education for Bishops, for Priests, for Permanent Deacons and Lay Leaders, and for the Laity as a whole. It will also include a special focus on what is called 'The Anglican Way' - asking what it means to be Anglican and how this can be effectively incorporated into Theological education at all levels.

The membership of TEAC is drawn from most of the Provinces of the Anglican Communion, and will be consulting widely as it engages in its task during the next few years.

At this meeting, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, who will act as a consultant to TEAC, addressed the group. He underlined that theological education was a particular priority for his archiepiscopate, and set out what he regarded as key lines of enquiry for TEAC. Challenged as to why we should be spending resources on theological education in a world in which many lack adequate food and healthcare, he spoke of the essential place of theological education in ensuring we are a Communion of Christians whose energies are appropriately channelled. Reminding TEAC of the words of Ephesians 4, 'to equip the saints for the work of ministry, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God' he pointed out that theological education was important for mission because it is only when we properly understand our faith that we can share with others the good news of what is different and new.

This meeting of TEAC established the pattern of working and briefs for the five sub-groups. Reinforcing the commitment of its membership to view theological education holistically, it adopted the following prayer, written by the Revd Canon Colleen O' Reilly (a TEAC member from Australia) as a Collect for the work of the group.

Christ our Teacher, you alone are the way, the truth and the life: so lead the Theological Education group in its work, building trust and understanding, that, in sharing our stories, vision and resources, all your people may grow in faith and your whole Church built up in love, in the power of the Holy Spirit and to the glory of the Father. Amen.

Anglican Communion News Service